Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-12-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, DEC. 5,


AS general rule the sessions of
the U. s. Senate are exceedingly
dull, except to careful and intelli
gent observer. The debates are
usually conducted in conversation
al manner, and very rarely, indeed,
is an effort made at oratOrical dis
play. A stranger looking down from
the gallery upon the Senate in Or,
dinary session, so quiet, dignified
and orderly, would have meagre
idea Of the immense brain power,
logic, and el0quence that could leap
forth from a score of lips the very
moment that occasion required it,
that would arouse the Nation from
centre to circumference, and on the
wings of cable lightning carry his
words as fast as uttered to the court
of every Nation on the face of the
earth. There are several cases on
record where a speech of some one
OF our Senatorial giants has been
read at the next mornings break
fast table in London, Paris, Berlin,
and other centres of national power.
1t is not the American eye alone
that watches the U. S. Senate.
While all are not great debaters,
they are wise legislators, and be who
has the power to clothe bis thoughts
in speech on great international is
sues, attracts the attention of the
world. / doubt if you can find a
like assembly on the face Of the
earth, that has the real brain power
of the U. s. Senate.
The House of Representatives is
quite different body, and is curl
ously made up. Here is a great
mixture of nationalities. Has the
thought ever occurred to You 7 Well,
we have here for members, the ma
tive born American, with his East
ern, or Western, or Southern ideas,
generally all good but sometimes
bad; then there is in this Congress,
by birth, the PrussiaD, the English
man, the Frenchman, the German,
Irishman, the Mexican, the Scotch
man, the Swede, and l don't know
how many other nations, and al.
though American citizens and loyal
to the Government and deserving of
all they receive, yet there isa differ.
ence oftemperament,to say the least,
possibly early ideas that are often
hard to harmonic. l do not won.
der that the sessions of the House
are a regular Pandemonium, and
that it requires five official reporters
to give an intelligent account of its
proceedings. Last winter there was
a stranger here from New Hamp-
shire. He took his seat in the gal
lery, and tried hard to keep run OF
the proceedings, but soon became
bewildered. Turning to the gentle.
man on his right, he inquired what
bill was up. "They are discussing,
sir, the Army appropriation He
watched and waited, and not being
fully satisfied, made the same in
curry of gentleman on his left
"They are making fight on the
River and Harbor BILL" was the
laconic and positive response. Our
New Hampshire friend waited anoth
er hour IN wonderland, and finally
left, but in passing out inquired OF
the messenger who attended the
door, what bill was up? Gan ap.
preparation, Sir, for new war YES.
sells" don't wonder that strangers
get confused some members do to
that extent that they can hardly
find their way home at the close of a
days session.
The Republican members OF the
House held their caucus Saturday
afternoon, and re elected Cannon, oil
Illinois, Chairman for this Congress
They then nominated Reed, OF
Maine, for Speaker; Mcpherson, OF
Pennsylvania, for Clerk Gen. Fitch
of Ohio, for Doorkeeper; Don Shep
ard, of Illinois, for Sergeant at Arms
and Charley Gray, of Dakota, fol
Postmaster. Everything ran as
smooth as oil, and gave perfect salts
faction.
The Democrats held their caucus
in the evening, and as usual was
boisterous and ended in a row. They
nominated all the present officers
except the door-keeper. Sam Don.
aldson, of Tennessee, was laid out
and a respectable man named Hurt
of Mississippi, received the nomina
tion-a change much for the better.
Carlisle had no opposition fsr Speak.
er. and made nice little speech in
recognition of the honor conferred
Breckenridge, of Arkansas, and
Blount, of Georgia, to make the
scene really democratic, got into an
alteration, fred at each other sever
al undignified epithets, then whack
whack,! went the blows. Brecken.
ridges nose bled profusely. Blount
seeing his victory, and encouraged
with the scent of fresh blood, pro.
posed to completely annihilate his
democratic colleague, but there were
a few sober heads present who in
terposed and stopped the quarrel
Breckenridge will wear court plas
ter on his nose for several days.
The Democrats will elect the tick
ct today by about ten majority, and
thus the Fiftieth Congress will be
organized, but anticipate the pugil.
istic demonstrations are not over
yet. "Behold how good and pleas.
ant it is for brethren to dwell toge.
ther in unity"
OF the new Senators fifteen are
Republican aud twelve Democrats.
On full vote the Republicans will
have a majority of two-a narrow
margin, put enough to prevent per
nicious legislation.
Wonderful Cures.